wrmedic82

This seems more of gross negligence than incompetency. Incompetency would be telling the patient to walk it off or moving the patient in a way to cause further harm to the patient. In the article it never stated that the paramedic made patient contact. If anything its a breach of duty to act when he was advised that a emergency was going on, and he failed to respond to the scene. The article is not clear as to why the other vehicle did not carry the necessary equipment to treat the patient. But what is clear is that it was a vehicle used to transport patients. That which makes the crew or EMS provider in a sense liable for not having the right equipment on the truck, or sending the unit to first respond with a ambulance with the capabilities needed to treat the patient appropriately. So the bigger picture so it seems stems further than just a negligent paramedic whom decides not to respond when approached about a emergent case. I think he is wrong for what he did. But I think also he is being a patsy so to speak for an entire ems systems incompetence. Another thing I would also like to know that is not specified in the article is whether or not he was on or off the clock during his 30 min break. If he was off the clock then the paramedic only had a ethical duty to act. If he was on the clock, then again that only goes towards gross negligence.